July 12 2012. By Vali Jamal: It was a great day for the Bohra community of Uganda today: The successor to the 52nd Dai al Mutlaq, Dr Mohamed Burhanuddin (TUS), Alqadir Sayedi Mufaddal Bhaisaheb Saifuddin (TUS) paid a 24-hour visit to lay the foundation stone of the first-ever Bohra mosque in Uganda. The succession was announced by the Dai himself in London two years ago. The Dai reached 101 years by the Islamic calendar this year, 100 years by the regular calendar next month.
I was invited to attend by the Mukhi of the Bohra jamat in Uganda, Sheikh Husseinbhai Malkan. His account is in my book in the section Those Who Never Left For Even a Day. He is the only original Bohra in Uganda. There are around 150 others from India. I was the only non-Bohra present. There were around 200 of the community, mostly from abroad, to catch a glimpse of their religion leader.
As Bhaisaheb Saifuddin alighted from his car a great cry of Allahu Akbar went up, accompanied by lots of tears-shedding. The heir to the Dai came to the verandah to sit on his ceremonial chair. Sheikh Husseinbhai went to brief him. Suddenly he called out my name to come to the dais. I hurriedly took my shoes off, took out the book volumes from my brief case and climbed the steps to meet the Dai. I was nervous. Bhaisaheb Saifuddin actually stood up from his chair to greet me, looking straight into my eyes with his kind eyes. We embraced. Sheikh Hussein showed him pages pertaining to himself in the book. Sayedi Saifuddin placed his hands on the book. He said I give you my blessings for your work. Then as another surprise he asked me to sit beside on the adjoining chair.
Everyone afterwards said to me nothing like this ever happened to any of them and my book was bound to succeed. Inshallah and al-Hamdulillah. I feel blessed and miracles already happened.
In one of the pictures: Sheikh Husseinbhai on the left and in another with the devoted kids. They were a delight to watch when the Bhaisaheb came to the dais. I agreed with Sheikh Hussein that I’d print a brand-new dedicated version next week to present to Bhaisaheb for the Dai al Mutlaq.
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